Novel Fibres :

Synthetic fibres made from renewable sources of biomass are environmentally sustainable, becoming increasingly economically sustainable. Biodegradable synthetic polymers include Novel fibres such as Polyglycolic acid and Polylactic acid, which are made from natural starting materials.

Not all novel fibres are synthetic; they may also be naturally derived. Some natural biological fibres come from basic materials found in nature, including:

Chitin - a type of sugar polymer found in crustaceans

Collagen - a type of protein found in animal connective tissue

Alginate - a type of sugar polymer

A prime example of a synthetic biomass fibre is Polylactic Acid (PLA), which ia made by fermenting cornstarch or glucose into lactic acid, and then chemically transforming it into a polymer fibre. With properties similar to other synthetic fibres, PLA based materials are durable with a silky feel, and may be blended with wool or cotton and fully biodegraded by microorganisms under appropriate conditions into carbon dioxide and water.

Application of bio technology in major textile fibres is as follows:

Cotton:

With increasing resistance of pests and insects against even the new and modern pesticides and insecticides, it is felt necessary to develop genetically engineered cotton plants which can be a major new tool in integrated pest management (IPM) and will also be eco-friendly. This approach necessitates gene transfer from other varieties, from more distant relatives or from unrelated organisms. Plant breeding and genetic engineering are strategies to achieve this goal

Genotypes having thin and a glabrous nature of leaves, okra character, high gossypol and open type plant types resist white fly infestation.

The white lint cottons have to be bleached and dyed unlike in naturally coloured cotton.

Concern for the environment has taken strong routes in minds of the people. Materials and products that are injurious to the eco system and human health are increasingly discouraged.

High tech recombinant DNA methods plus transformations are also likely to help in Topping the gene sources in microorganisms for developing coloured cotton.

The spectrum of colours in cotton comprise colours like brown, black, c red, red, khaki, pinkish, brown, blue, dirty, white, green, bright, green, and their various shades.

Experimental hybrids of coloured cotton which are products of cross between white linted and colour linted cotton were found to be high yielding with strong and long fibres.

Wool:

Environmentally friendly shrink-proofing treatment for wool with new keratin-degrading enzyme is discovered in mold.

Shrink-proofing treatments for wool commonly utilize chlorine-based chemicals or synthetic resins. Wastewater from these types of processing contains toxic substances that can be harmful to the environment. In addition, woolen textiles that have undergone treatment for shrink-proofing usually have an inferior hand and do not take advantage of wool's natural softness. Treatment to avoid felt shrinkage has involved treating wool with either chlorine-based chemical in order to remove the cuticle or synthetic resins to cover the surface of the fiber. In these methods, the. Waste water from the processing can contain AOX (absorbable organic halogens), which are harmful to the environment. Furthermore, wool that has been treated with resins usually has a poor hand and reduced water absorption and desorption abilities. Due to these factors, the dyeing industry has been calling for development of shrink-proofing technology free from chlorine-based chemicals.